Are you considering changing your website? Maybe some pages, or maybe even an entire rebuild? Remaking your website is an exciting move that can highlight your branding, improve user experience, and drive better conversions. But then the question is: Will remaking your website hurt your Google ranking?
The short answer? It depends on how it’s done.
If done incorrectly, you could lose hard-earned search rankings overnight. But if you take the right steps, your new website can maintain (or even improve) your SEO performance.
A Common Mistake: Removing Pages Without Redirects
One of the most common mistakes when rebuilding a website is removing old pages without properly redirecting them. When Google has already indexed your pages, then you suddenly delete them or change their URLs, your rankings will be hurt. Why? Because Google won’t know where to find the content anymore!
It is important to make sure any pages you remove are replaced by a 301 error page, referring to the new location of this website.
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection from one URL to another. This tells Google that your page has moved and directs users (and search engines) to the new page.
A good web developer will make sure this is done correctly. Website pages that already are listed by Google and ranking (check Search Console for this) are replaced by new, optimized pages, at the same URL (address).
For example, let’s say you currently have a page at:
If you decide to rename it to:
https://thriveline.ca/websites (without a redirect)
Google will go to /website, find nothing, and drop it from search results. Meanwhile, the new page /websites has to work its way up from zero.
Important Reminders:
– Keep the same URL if possible – this is the easiest way to avoid ranking issues.
– Use a 301 redirect – If you must change the URL, set up a redirect from /website to /websites. This tells Google, “Hey, we’ve moved, come check us out over here!”
What About Search Console and Sitemaps?
If you’re making changes to your website, Google Search Console is best ally. Before making any updates, check which pages are already ranking well. If a page is performing well, it’s best to keep the same URL or ensure it is properly redirected.
After launching your updated site, update your XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console. This helps Google quickly find and index your new or updated pages.
RECAP: Here are the Right Ways to Consider When Changing Your Website
If you want to remake your website without damaging your SEO, follow these key steps:
- Audit your existing pages by identifying the high-ranking pages using Google Search Console.
- Keep URLs the same when possible.
- Set up 301 redirects when you need to change the old urls.
- Update your sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console for re-indexing.
- Check and fix broken links.
- Keep on monitoring your ranking performance after any changes on the website.
Need Help? ThriveLine Can Help!
Remaking a website is exciting, but it also comes with some SEO risks if not done correctly. At ThriveLine, we know how to create and rebuild websites without losing your Google rankings. If you’re thinking about a website remake without hurting your Google ranking, get in touch with us today!
